Orbitz

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Known primarily for its airline business, Orbitz does well if you're looking for hotels. Other sites do a better job of finding cut-rate lodging, and Expedia almost always beats Orbitz on rates at the fanciest hotels. Where Orbitz excels is in the midline, three- to four-star hotels, particularly for last-minute searches.

Not only are rates often lower than at rival sites, but Orbitz frequently had rooms when the others were sold out. Yet the site can be frustrating to use. Orbitz doesn't always factor in hotel promotions or rate changes over the length of your stay, and in some cases we would have saved money dealing directly with the hotel. Hotel information also tends to be skimpy, and search results are often too broad: A search for hotels in Times Square returned properties all over Manhattan.